16 March 2023 02:51 pm
Royal College stormed back into the 144th Battle of the Blues encounter reaching the day one tea break on 189 for 4, with S. Thomas' College going wicketless in the second session of play.
Royal captain Dasis Manchanayake continued to be a thorn in the flesh for the Thomians, moving on to 80 not out at the break, while Ramiru Perera also contributed a well-made half-century.
Perera was on an unbeaten 60, having struck up a partnership of 123 runs with Manchanayake, frustrating the Thomians who at one stage were in complete control of the game.
The Thomians had had the Royalists on 83 for 4 at lunch with Manchanayake holding strong after his team were reduced to 19 for 3 in the first hour of play.
Akash Fernando struck in the first over of the day, finding the edge of Rehan Pieris, caught down the leg side for four, before Nathan Caldera accounted for the key wicket of Sineth Jayawardena, three overs later.
The Royalists lost a third wicket when a mistimed heave off Kavindu Dias' first ball was caught by Caldera, and were reduced to 19 for 3.
A 44-run partnership between Manchanayake and Ovina Ambanpola ensued, as Royal staged a recovery of sorts, before Ambanpola was bowled by Fernando for 30.
From there however, Manchanayake slowly took the initiative away from the Thomains, looking largely comfortable in his partnershup with Perera.
Royal College 189 for 4 in 47 overs (Dasis Manchanayake 79*, Ramiru Perera 59*, Akash Fernando 2/35, Nathan Caldera 1/41, Kavindu Dias 1/23)